New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-09
THE SURROGATE AT WORK
n.N,EL @. ROLLINS ON THE BENCH.


RrePoNaIBIITY AND TOLL
,v. an. nresent Surrogate of the County Of
c.-york was Assistant District-Atiorney MS to
i.t,ons to Benjamin X. Phelps. then D'"tr'o'
Attornev. were described by one who knew 'h""i
both vail In these words; g He's Phephs r'R..
hover, and mere than that hos his htt'e ]oNel
The seutsnoe aptlv described in euchre ph'a>0 'n'
nharactaristics of Daniel G. Rollins. W"'i"'o' ''
has besn placed In tho game OF i1e' W """p' r"o
figure of his friend. he has proved TRUMP ''
untirina industry in the walks oil his prsieSs'h'
hjs iudomitable energy and pluck DIS "h'"'' 49,,
Nd.,,,v tn tho interests committed tn ha care MS
ouick approhensiOn of nice points OIL ID" "''' -"
iudicial olsarnesa In presenting an "'A"'
A.o;d,ng ca.e. have mado his usefulness 10 '"oso
~hor, be.served whether individual c1e1t" OF 'h'
uaon,a. Of the highest order. Like many "t"er INV"
NJ cxcsptional abilities who hav" won reP"'','''.
=. ,ha h.nch or at the bar. he has too VEIN Oh
bumor in his composition, which makes In' Wv.
siven to him when no was moro than MI "0''''
right bower doubly applicable
MIA HABITS OF WORK.
. ~.r nm Tho bench il moro devoted to his work
Ah.n he and in order to perform 1t consciNnno"sy
n. "a compellel to labor often twioe eight hours
a.v Ris,na early he s,,ors for two hours ut home'
Thtn ha nrocesds to tho Court House on four days
in the week aud there sits often WITHOUT ioSes'
for lu.cheOn until / D. H.. ana 1reQneh'y i"'',' W
Fridays, Saturdays and sundays he rehi"n' o." ""'
ut tie rooms VI The Bar Assooiatipn' eoh'ui''"s
authorities in it's wellhllsd library aud pr0Paiins
his decisions Every evening he spSnus th'i A
the same way except Friday and SATURDAY 0'on
iuxs. which are tho only times tor resi- an" ie0'1
at,uu that hs allows nimsef. Inc ampuh' VI WI"
shat he dispose. of in this way is ehorniou' anu
no,n,uu il done in q slovenly manner. Since 10
VIVA placed at the head of the SurroSates Court ho
has introduced methods by which the business VI
the office is vresty expedited. In the library no 20
o rapid reader, aud when he dictates MS opihio" "
takss sallopng steuographer to Keep up WI n'n''
On the bench he quickly comprehtnds tho ""s'
d,fhcult legal questions, and his great experience
ana study enable hun speedily ami justly 10 ui7po'o
of the most in ricate aud Involved cases. Livery
Thursday is motion day, and Ill sorts vi points VI
laW and practice presented in the long ca'ehuaiS
Of the court winch with extraordinary CELEBRITY arc
deci.ed In cases of great length and Importance
Ike the Hoyt will case it takes time to examine
the mas.es of testimony and cOllate the strong
pons of tn. ev idence both sides, but when once
decided these cases become landmarks 70 suide
future jurists along paths in which 1T Is easy 10
lose ones way.
The work of the Surrogate's Court has greatly
increased since Mr.. Rollins took his seat on the
bench, and it will constantly increase In inc
future with the increase of population IN this
comfy and the continued influx OF money Tor Ill
vestment to tue commercial capital of the country
And yet there has been no change IN the laws
commensurate to the altered condition of affairs.
There is one Surrogate for New-York as there is
one Surrogate for every little county in the state
Who has about as Ich to do in IL week as Surro-
cato Rollins is conpelei to attend tA' in single
day. 1t is understood that he IL not Candidate
for reelect0n. The duties If the ONCE as he 1ees
bound to administer them are t"o lab0rio1s LOT ahy
me man to give more than Blk years OF his life TO-
He has never sought office, aud it il believed 10 DO
moro than ever certain that he will not do SO IN
This case. When he was appointed District-At-
torney no one else for a mOpent thought OF fof
She place. He hal so distinguished himself during
the eight years that he was Assistant District
Attorney that nearly sll the judges wanted him
appointed, and the general sentiment was that II
was a selection most fit to be made.
HOW THE OFFICE is onGANIz'D.
The organization of the Office under Surrogate
Rollins is pronounced by Lawyers TO be as nearly
perfect fer tho transaction of business as IL
possible for 1t to be. The records are properly
in,exed and readily accessible In the decision
book, first introduced by Surrogate Rollins every
decision of a litigated matter is entered. 1t has
provcd a great convenience to counsel and to the
Surrogate also. Litigation in this court differs
fro,n that 10 other court. for any matter tnat
comes mp may involve villa has been done before
md II is i'm O0rtant to be able to refer at once to
mast authorizations, as may be done by consulting
the decision book.
10 Tue organization of the office the Chief Clerk.
William " Leary, has full charge under tue Surro-
Vats VINO has said of him that he is " excellent,
efficient. obligng and POPULAR" aud to this the
lawyers who daily come iD contact with hm bear
willing testimony. All orders and DEGREES in cases
not OIL the contested list are passed upon by him,
and ho is tho only one besides the Surrogate who ID
authorized tn write the word Surrogate on an
or,,er Every decree or order is signed either by
the Surrogate or by him.
Z Charles +. SOule is the capable law assistant to
the Surrogate. Ausburn NJ. Dickinson is the
clerk Of the Surrogate Court Charles Beckett
chef of the Probate Department; James }.
Barton, chief of the Accounting Department;
Tmomas kiker, chief OIL the Administrative De-
partneny; Samuel A. Madge. superintendent OF
Records; Lewis A. Stralan, Superintendent of Re-
cori.ug Clerks; Denis Shea. Guardian Account
Clerk, and Nicholas p Hayes, Chief Of the
Guardianship Depar tment There are in all forty
two clerks, including those here mentioned. aud
eight clerks at present engaged OH extra work.
Some idea of the amount of work performed in
the Surrogate's Office may be gathered from the
following statistics Of 1856 from January / to
December 2;
Will. admitted l,2o3
Letters estamentary. ....................... 1l3O
Yome,tic letters OF administration ......... $3.50
Temporary letters OF administration ~
Ancllisry letters OF adiHiifstr Htlon. ~
Auxiliary le,ters OF administration, VIII annexed. ~
Domestic letters OF administration, Will annexed lob
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2,45S
t}eneraI s,,srdisushi letters Observation-Disclosures. 729
r. Suiur rtia